Case against DPR set for hearing

Case against DPR set for hearing

JAKARTA (JP): The civil lawsuit against the House of
Representatives' special committee investigating the Bulog (State
Logistics Agency) and Brunei scandals, which allegedly involves
President Abdurrahman Wahid, is scheduled to be heard beginning
Jan. 3 next year at the Central Jakarta District Court, an
official said last week.

"The panel of judges will comprise Bambang S. Sriwulan as the
presiding judge, Judge Poerwanto and Judge Marni Emy M.

"I have just delivered the summons to the House today
(Tuesday)," court clerk Heri told The Jakarta Post.

The summons was received by chairman of the House's special
committee Bachtiar Chamsyah.

The plaintiffs, namely Siti Farikha, Aris Junaedi and Masnuh,
are linked to the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization,
formerly chaired by Abdurrahman.

While Semarang-based businesswoman Siti Farikha has family
links with the NU organization, Aris Junaedi is a brother of
Arifin Junaidi, a legislator of the National Awakening Party
(PKB).

Masnuh is the deputy treasurer at the NU executive board.

The House's special committee is probing the possible
involvement of Abdurrahman in the withdrawal of Rp 35 billion
belonging to a State Logistics Agency (Bulog) foundation and the
misuse of a US$2 million donation from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah.

Earlier, the plaintiffs' lawyer Sitor Situmorang said none of
the special commissions formed by the House were registered with
the state secretariat, as required by a 1954 law which stipulates
that the establishment of such committees should be listed in the
State Gazette.

"The special committee investigating the Bulog and the Brunei
scandals is illegal, as it has not been listed in the State
Gazette, as required by Law No. 6/1954 on the legislature's right
of inquiry," Sitor told reporters.

"Our clients demand that the committee pays each of them Rp
1,000,000,001 -- Rp 1 billion for material losses and Rp 1 for
subsidiary losses."

The same charges were also made earlier by the President, who
stated that the committee was illegal since it had not been
listed in the State Gazette.

Vice President

The House's special committee intends to question Vice
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, after questioning the President
and his former masseur Suwondo, to seek clarification.

Bachtiar Chamsyah had said that Megawati would be questioned
as she was mentioned in the testimony of former National Police
chief Gen. Rusdihardjo.

He said Rusdihardjo has admitted before the committee that he
had handed over a police dossier on the case to Vice President
Megawati Soekarnoputri. (ylt)